Automatic musical instrument.



L. H. MAlER.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL 1NSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, i913.

1,188,466. Patented June 27,1916.

g2 Z3 Z4 4L 7 @Viimeooeo: amen/01 LOUIS I-I. MAIER, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed February 11, 1913. Serial No. 747,664,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis H. MAIER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, borough of the Bronx, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide. simple and efficient means to cause operation of the power or striker pneumatics in automatic musical instruments with more or less strength to produce expression in the musical composition being rendered, such as to cause said pneumatics to operate as required under low tension or high tension pneumatic tension.

In carrying out my invention I provide a power or striker pneumatic or bellows, .3. chest for low tension and a chest for high tension air or exhaust, valves to control the flow of air through said chests respectively, one of said valves being adapted to control the normal flow of atmospheric air to said pneumatic, said valves being adapted to coact with one another in such manner as to shut off atmospheric air from said pneumatic and to cause one suction tension to be effective between one of said chests and said pneumatic, sion to be effective between the other of said chests andsaid pneumatic, according to the movement of the respective valve, for collapsing the pneumatic as required, whereby the operation of said pneumatic may be controlled by a perforated music sheet passing over a tracker barfor causing low tension or high tension operation of said pneumatic as required, according to the expression of said pneumatic as required, according to the expression desired in the musical composition being rendered.

My invention further comprises novel details of improvement and combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a Sectional view illustrating and a different suction tens my improvements in connection with a portion of a tracker; Fig. 2 is a detail face view of one of the valves; Fig. 3 is a face view of diaphragm 12; Fig. 1 is a detail of part of one of the valves; Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a valve stiffening disk; Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a modification; Fig. 7 is a detail of disk 26; Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the valve seat 18 and its pipe 20; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a further modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings the numerals 1, 2, indicate chests respectively adapted to have maintained therein high tension and low tension exhaust, as through the pipes 3, 1, connected with any suitable exhaust inducing bellows or the like. Between chests 3 and 4c is a chamber or chest 5, open to atmos phere for the flow of air to the power pneumatic or bellows 6. The valves for controlling the flow of air to and from pneumatic 6 are showngenerally arranged substantially similar to the valves set forth in Letters Patent Nos. 992,367 and 992,435 granted to me May 16, 1911, although my improve ments are not limited to the use of the particular valves herein'set forth.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings what I term apertured valves, adapted to control the flow of air to and from the pneumatic 6, which valves are adapted to coact with each other when air is to be drawn from the pneumatic 6 into either chest 1- or 2. r The chest 1- has an opening 1 and at, 1 is an apertured diaphragm secured over or in line with said opening. Upon diaphragm 1 is an apertured valve 7, the aperture 7 of which is alined with the corresponding aperture of diaphragm 1 1 Valve? also has a central valve portion 7 b to coact with the inner surface 8 of seat 8 Seat 8 may be supported by bar or extension 8*, (Fig. 5) secured to chest 1. 1 Valve 7 .is adapted to coact with the concentric surface 8 of seat 8. In the arrangement shown the valve 7 comprises one or more rings or apertured disks, say of leather, fasconcentric with its bore 8'.

tened to a stiifening metal ring or disk at having aperture 04: corresponding to the aperture of the valve and diaphragm and alined therewith, the cross bar a being shown provided with a centrally disposed enlargement a alined with the corresponding part of valve 7 adapted to coact with seat 8 I have shown seat 8 as countersunk at 8 to provide the concentric surfaces or seats 8 8, to insure close fitting of the valve on seat'S, although it will be understood that said seat may be otherwise suitably arranged, such as by having the surface of said seat 8 flat. Under one condition valve 7 will close opening l 'at seat 8, and under another condition the aperture of valve 7 will be closed to atmosphere by engaging an apertured valve 9 carried by an apertured diaphragm 10, secured over or in line with the opening 2 of chest 2 to which diaphragm 10 is connected.

Plunger 11 in chest 1 is guided in an opening in seat 8, and said plunger bears against a diaphragm 12, which covers the recess 13, communicating with a port 14. of bore or conduit 15, of chest 1, that communicates by a flexible tube 16, with an orifice 17 of a tracker bar 17. The apertured valve 9 may be constructed in the manner described with respect to valve 7, and is adapted to coact with a seat 18, that communicates by a pipe or channel 20 with pneumatic 6. Valve 9 controls the fiow of atmospheric air from chamber 5 to said pneumatic, and controls exhaust from said pneumatic to chest 2, as well as exhaust from said pneumatic through valve 7 to chest 1 when the valve 7 has been moved into engagement with valve 9, it being understood that air flows through the apertures in said valves and diaphragms'as required. Valve 9 is controlled by a diaphragm 21 secured over recess 22, communicating with port 28 of bore or conduit 2% of chest 2, which bore or conduit communicates by means of fiexible tube 25 with orifice 17 of tracker 17, for which purpose valve 9 is operatively connected with diaphragm 21 in substantially the manner shown in my aforesaid patents. The plunger 11 is arranged in manner similar to plunger 11, and passes through a guide 9 concentric with seat 18, whereby when diaphragm 21 bulges toward seat 18 valve 9 will be lifted from said seat and will engage valve 7, and when said diaphra gm bulges away from said seat 18 valve 9 will engage the latter.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, instead of having the plungers 11 and 11', metal rings 26 are arranged for the corresponding valves 7 and 9, and provided with extensions 26 bent toward and adapted to coact with diaphragms 12 and 21 respectively, whereby when the diaphragms bulge toward and from the valve seats the valves A w n a will be operated as before described. Suitable bleeds 27, 28 are shown respectively between chest 1 and bore 15 and between chest 2 and bore 24.

NVhile chests 1 and 2, according to Figs. 1 and 6, may be fitted in permanent relation with a definite dimension of chest 5 therebetween, I have shown an arrangement in Fig. 9 whereby the chests 1 and 2 may be adjusted toward and from each other to vary the depth of chest or chamber 5, and thereby also to vary the distance between valves 7 and 9. For this purpose I have shown screws 30 having right and left hand threads screwing into apertures in chests 1 and 2, and interposed between said chests in such manner that by rotating said screws said chests will be adjusted more or less toward or from each other, and retained in such positions. By this means I am enabled to vary the depth of chest 5 and simultaneously the normal distance between valves 7 and 9 when they are upon their seats, to determine the movement of valve 9 or'7 as may be desired.

It will be understood that any desired number of valves 7 and 9 and their diaphragms, ports and passages, with the corresponding pneumatics 6, may be arranged in a row along the chests, according to the required dimensions of the musical instrument and the number of notes to be played. Each of such valves and the bores 15 and 24 will be connected by the corresponding tubes 16 and 25 with the appropriate orifice of, 1. the tracker. In the example illustrated,orifices 17, 17 will both correspond to one musical note, such as a in a musical scale, two other orifices 17, 17 will be connected by corresponding tubes with the bores and valves for another note, such as b of such scale, and so on for each of the notes of the: tracker, whereby if an orifice, such as 17" or 17 be opened to atmosphere, by a traveh ing music sheet, the corresponding low tens sion valve 9 will operate, and, likewise, if the orifice 17 or 17 be opened by such sheet. to atmosphere the corresponding high tension valve 7 will be operated, the note openings of the traveling music sheet being cut therein in such manner as to cause actua tion of the corresponding pneumatic 6 for the low or high tension operation, by permitting air to pass through'the correspond: ing note orifices 17 17 17", etc. When the. orifices in the tracker are closed by the music; sheet, atmospheric air passes through the perforated valves 9, diaphragms 10 and pasw sages 20 to the pneumatics 6, causing the. same to expand, suction being maintained; for low and high tension in the chests 2 and u 1 respectively. If, new, a tracker orifice, such as 17", be opened by a note opening in a music sheet passing over the tracker, air admitted to bore 24: permits diaphragm 21,

to bulge upwardly, thereby unseating valve 9 from seat 18, and causing said valve to seat against valve 7, closing communication of the corresponding pneumatic 6 to atmosphere from passage 20, and opening said paS- sage to chest 2, whereupon the corresponding pneumatic G will collapse by reason of the low tension exhaust in such chest, causing a note to be struck according to such low tension, and so on each time one of the tracker orifices in communication with a diaphragm 21 is uncovered. If, however, one of the tracker orifices communicating with a high tension valve diaphragm 12 be uncovered, such as 17 (while a companion low tension tracker orifice 17 is closed) air entering bore 15 causes diaphragm 12 to bulge and push valve 7 from its seat 8, into engagement with valve 9, thereby closing communication between chest 5 and passage 20 and opening communication from passage 20 through valves 9 and 7 and their diaphragms 10 and 1 to high tension chest 1, causing the correspondingpneumatic 6 to collapse suddenly or forcibly in accordance with the high tension exhaust in said chest, thereby striking the note forcibly or with increased expression.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a practical example of means adapted to carry my invention into practice, it will be understood that changes may be made in the arrangements set forth, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. The combination of a pneumatic, and chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, with valves and seats therefor respectively positioned to shut off communication between said pneumatic and said chests, one of said valves normally providing communication therethrough between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable said valve to open communication between said pneumatic and one of said chests and close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, and. means to enable the other of said valves to open communication between the other of said chests and said pneumatic through said valves and to close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere.

2. The combination of a pneumatic, and chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, with valves and seats therefor respectively positioned to shut oif communication between said pneumatic and said chests, one of said valves normally providing communication therethrough between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable said valve to open communication between said pneumatic and one of said chests, and means to enablethe other of said valves to open communication between the other of said chests and said pneumatic through said valves, said valves being adapted to engage to shut off communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere.

3. The combination of a pneumatic, chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, said chests having openings for the passage of air and being spaced apart to admit atmospheric air between them, opposed valves and seats therefor adjacent said openings and normally spaced apart and upon thin seats for the passage of atmospheric air between said valves, said valves having apertures for the passage of air therethrough, a passage connecting one of said seats and valves with said pneumatics, means to movably support said valves .to cause them to engage with their respective seats, and to engage with each other to cut oif the flow of atmosphere to the pneumatic and to cause exhaust to operate through the apertures of both of said valves from one of said chests and under the other valve from the other chest to collapse said pneumatic.

4c. The combination of a pneumatic, chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, said chests being spaced apart providing a passage for atmospheric air therebetween, said chests having openings, an apertured diaphragm at each opening, an apertured valve carried by each diaphragm and opposed to each other for thin apertures to register, a seat adjacent to each valve, and a passage connecting one of said seats with said pneumatic.

5. The combination of a pneumatic, and chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, said chests being spaced apart providing a passage for atmospheric air therebetween, said chests having openings, an apertured diaphragm at each opening, an apertured valve carried by each diaphragm, a seat adjacent to each valve, a passage con necting one of said seats with said pneumatic, and means for operating said valves independently of one another to uncover the corresponding seat of one of the valves and close said. valves together.

6. The combination of a pneumatic, and. chests adapted for high and low tension ex-- haust, with valves and seats therefor re spectively positioned to shut off communicatron between said pneumatic and said chests,

one of said valves normally providing com munication therethrough between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable said valve to open communication between said pneumatic and one of said chests and close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable the other of said valves to open communication between the other of said chests and said pneumatic through said valves and to close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, a tracker having orifices, and means communicating with each of said chests and a tracker orifice for operating either of said valves upon the flow of air through its corresponding tracker orifice.

7. The combination of a pneumatic, and chests adapted for .high and low tension exhaust, with valves and seats therefor respectively positioned to shut off communication between said pneumatic and said chests, one of said valves normally providing communication therethrough between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable said valve to open communication between said pneumatic and one of said chests and close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable the other of said valves to open communication between the other of said chests and said pneumatic through said valves-and to close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, a movable member for operating each valve, a tracker having orifices, and means providing communication between each of said members and a tracker orifice for causing operation of the corresponding Valve upon the flow of air through the corresponding orifice.

8. The combination of a pneumatic, chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, said chests having a space therebetween for atmospheric air, said chests being provided with opposed openings, apertured diaphragms and seats adjacent said openings, opposed apertured valves carried by said diaphragms adapted to engage with the seat of the corresponding chest and to engage with each other, and a passage connecting one of said seats with said pneumatic.

9. The combination of a pneumatic, chests adapted for high and lower tension exhaust, said chests having a space therebetween for atmospheric air, and said chests being pro vided with opposed openings, opposed aper- 'tured diaphragms and seats adjacent said openings, opposed apertured valves carried by said diaphragms adapted to engage with the seat of the corresponding chest and to engage with each other, a passage connecting one of said seats with said pneumatic, a movable member to unseat each of said valves, one of said valves being arranged to seat against the other valve to cause air to flow through said passage and through i both valves when one of the valves engages the passage seat, and whereby when said valve is off said seat and engaged with the other valve while the latter is on its seat air from said passage will flow under said valves.

10. The combination of a pneumatic, chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, said chests being spaced apart providing a chamber therebetween foratmospheric air, means connecting said chests for adjustment toward and from each other to vary the dimensions of said chamber, said chests having openings, valves and seats therefor respectively adapted to shut of! communication between said pneumatic and in said chests, one of said valves normally providing communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable said valve to open communication between said pneumatic and one of said chests and close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, and means to enable the other of said valves to open communication between the other of said chests and said pneu matic and to close communication between. said pneumatic and atmosphere.

11. The combination of a pneumatic, chests adapted for high and low tension exhaust, said chests being spaced apart providing a chamber therebetween for atmospheric air, screws firmly connecting said chests for adjustment toward and from each other to vary the dimensions of said chamber, said chests having openings, valves and seats therefor respectively adapted to shut off communication between said pneumatic and said chests, one of said valves normally providing communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, means to enable said valve to open communication between said pneumatic and one of said chests and close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere, and means to enable the other of said valves to open communication between the other of said chests and said pneumatic and to close communication between said pneumatic and atmosphere.

12. The combination of a controlling do vice, a pair of apertured valves to control the same, and means to cause said valves to engage and disengage each other to cause operation of said device.

13. The combination of a controlling device, a pair of opposed apertured valves to control the same, and means to cause said valves to engage and disengage each other to cause operation of said device.

14. The combination of a controlling dm vice, a pair of opposed apertured valves tn. control the same, and means to cause said; 1 valves to engage each other to cause opera tion of said device, said valves when out of engagement causing said device to assume its inoperative position and atmospheric air to flow thereto.

15. The combination of a controlling device, a pair of opposed spaced apertured valves to control the same,means to support said valves to engage each other, and means for causing operatioh of said device when said valves are in engagement with each other, said valves when out of engagemenh causing said device to assume its inoperative position.

16. The combination of a controlling do vice, a pair of opposed apertured valves norof New York, and State of New York, this mally separated causing said device to as- 10th day of February, A. D. 1913. sume its inoperative position, and means for causing said valves to engage With their LOUIS MAIER' 5 apertures in communication to cause oper- Witnesses:

ation of said device. MARIE J. WAINRIGHT,

Signed at New York city, in the county T. F. BoUnNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, D. G.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,188,466.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,188,466, granted June 27, 1916, upon the application of Louis H. Maier, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Automatic Musical Instruments, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 77 and 98, claims 3 and 4, for the Word thin read their; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,188,466.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,188,466, granted June27, 1916, upon the application of Louis H. Maier, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Automatic Musical Instruments, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 77 and 98, claims 3 and 4, for the Word thin read their; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

